Papers and reports
How to write a reaction paper.
By the EssayMate team · Updated November 9, 2026
A reaction paper is your response to something you read, watched or heard: a film, a book, an article, an essay, a speech or a lecture. It briefly summarises the work, then gives your reaction to it, supported with reasons and examples.
In senior high school English for Academic and Professional Purposes (EAPP), the reaction paper is taught alongside the review and the critique. All three summarise and evaluate a work; a reaction paper puts more weight on your own response, while a critique judges the work against standards like accuracy, structure and use of evidence.
The parts of a reaction paper
| Part | What it contains | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | The title, author or director, date, and a thesis: your overall reaction in one sentence. | About 10% |
| Summary | The main points or plot, in your own words, without your opinion yet. | About 25–30% |
| Reaction | Your response: what you agree or disagree with, what was effective or not, what it made you think, with reasons and examples from the work. | About 50% |
| Conclusion | Your overall assessment and who the work is for, or what it leaves you thinking about. | About 10% |
Questions to build your reaction
Before writing, note your answers to these questions while you read or watch. Each strong answer can become a body paragraph.
- What is the author's or director's main message or argument?
- Do you agree with it? Which parts, and why?
- Which scene, passage or point was most effective, and what made it work?
- What was weak, missing or unconvincing?
- How does it connect to your experience, to the Philippine context, or to what you learned in class?
- Did it change your opinion on anything?
Reaction paper outline
I. Introduction
The work (title, author, year) · its subject in one sentence · your thesis: your overall reaction.
II. Summary
The main argument or plot, in order · no opinion yet.
III. Reaction point 1
A claim about the work · evidence: a scene, quote or example · why it matters.
IV. Reaction point 2
Same pattern; can be a criticism.
V. Reaction point 3 (optional)
A connection to your experience or the wider issue.
VI. Conclusion
Your overall assessment · a recommendation or a final thought.
Example reaction paragraph
This model paragraph, written for this guide, reacts to an imagined documentary about overseas Filipino workers (OFWs):
The documentary is most powerful when it lets the families speak for themselves. The scene in which a daughter reads her mother's text message about missing her graduation says more about the cost of working abroad than any statistic in the film. However, the documentary gives little time to the reasons families choose this path, such as wages at home, so viewers may come away pitying the workers rather than understanding their decision. A fuller picture would have made the film's call for better support for OFW families more convincing.
It makes a claim (the film is strongest when families speak), backs it with a specific scene, adds a criticism with a reason, and says why it matters. That is the pattern for every reaction paragraph.
Tips
- Keep the summary short; the reaction is what is graded.
- Support each opinion with something specific from the work.
- First person ("I think", "I found") is usually allowed; check with your teacher.
- Quote briefly and cite the work (see MLA format or APA format for how).
- Balance praise and criticism; even a favourite film has weaknesses.
- If the assignment asks for a personal lesson rather than an evaluation, you may need a reflection paper instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reaction paper?
A reaction paper is a short paper that summarises a work, such as a film, book, article or speech, and then gives your reasoned response to it: what you agree or disagree with and why.
How long is a reaction paper?
Usually one to three pages, or about 300 to 1,000 words. Follow the length your teacher sets; the summary should take no more than a third of it.
What is the difference between a reaction paper and a critique?
Both summarise and evaluate a work. A reaction paper centres on your personal response; a critique judges the work more formally against standards such as accuracy, organisation and use of evidence.
Can I use first person in a reaction paper?
Usually yes, since it presents your response. Keep the tone formal and support each opinion with examples from the work.
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